First Time BP Owner

[TheGreatStevearino]

Hey all,

I picked up my first BP yesterday evening from a locally owned pet store (wanted to go to a breeder but oh well). He's about 3.5 years old and a rescue from his previous home. His previous owners placed a heat lamp in his enclosure and of course he ended up wrapping around it and burning himself in a few small places. The store had him for a couple of months and he has been healing just fine. Besides, I love his blemishes.

I had his tank up and running for about a week prior, working on regulating the temp and humidity before I actually got the animal. It's a 40 gallon and I'm using a UTH paired with a thermostat along with a 100W infrared heat emitter. The humidity is in the 55% range, though he had just finished his shed before I got him and I'm planning on utilizing the sticky at the top of this forum to get any stray pieces that may be left on (his eye caps were still on when I got him, though I'm not sure if they still are since he has been in his hide all day).

My temperature is about 79 on the cool side, and 91 on the basking side. However, directly under the infrared heat emitter I measured it at approx 94. Should I downgrade to a 75W bulb since I already have the UTH working on temp as well? I don't want to put too much heat out, though I suppose he could just go to his cool-side hide (identical to his basking hide) if he got overheated... thoughts?

His feeding schedule was once a week on Wednesdays. He hasn't eaten in about 2 weeks due to his recent shed, so should I try to feed him this Wednesday leave him be since he may still be acclimating to his new environment?

I've owned a snake in the past along with a plethora of other reptiles and mammals so I'm very much looking forward to taking care of this guy.

[TheSnakeGuy]

It's fantastic to hear that you've done lots of research and perfected your setup before getting this snake. Welcome to the addiction. Your snake is not overheated, 94-95 degrees right at the heat source is not a problem. If those temps were your ground level basking spot then it would probably be too hot. And if you downgraded your bulb it would likely be too little heat output. Sounds like you're in the idea range. I hope the burns heal up well. You could try to feed on Wednesday and she'll probably eat. Until then just leave the snake alone to acclimate to it's new home. GOOD LUCK!

[brobertson]

Your setup sounds pretty solid, and I don't think a downgrade is really necessary. If you want to lower that temp instead of downgrading your bulb, I would get a rheostat or light dimmer. I believe you can get one at home depot, and I know that zoo med makes one. Heat emitters are pretty pricey, and neither of these things should run you more than 15-20 dollars. Is that 94 degrees on top of his hide, or on the ground around it.? If it is on top, you should be just fine, but 94 on the ground is a bit too hot for my preference. Could we get some pics of the setup? Everything sounds pretty darn good, glad to see you did your research!

[TheGreatStevearino]

Thanks for the prompt responses, guys. I'll take some pics and post them up soon. I have the UTH on a far side of the tank, and the heat emitter on top just before the middle of the terrarium (on the basking side). I may move it slightly more towards the basking side, but this way it provides extra heat to the basking side while creating the temp gradient required. I'm glad to know that he should be just fine the way he is. I'll try feeding him on Wednesday and see how it goes, though if his eye caps are still on he may not be as interested.

[Southern_Breeder]

Congrats on the your new baby

[TheGreatStevearino]

Here are some pics:

The setup thus far. I'm getting rid of the Zoo Med humidity gauge and going digital (already have a digital thermometer). The tank looks bowed from the pic but I can assure you it is not.







Here he is! Looks more cramped than he actually is but they like tight spaces so as long as he's happy!

[TheGreatStevearino]

Update: After having the heat emitter on for ~15 hours, I measured the substrate temp directly under the lamp and it was in the 95-98 degree range. That was only directly under it, though. The cool end is still sitting at 79-82, while the area to the right of the heat emitter on the hot side is 89-91. Since it's only a small portion that's at a high temp, it's still okay, right? Sorry, I'm just worrying about my new pet

[EarthlyMaiden]

Haha, I know the feeling. I've had my first herp for a few months now, he had just arrived at a pet shop from a breeder. A lot of animals have more personality than people give them credit for.

The heat range sounds fine. Personally, I need to keep the humidity levels higher because of the weather around here. Winter tends to get really dry, and while it may be humid one day, it can just as easily go back to 30 degree weather with little flurries.
Now, this is just me, but I moved away from using wood substrate and switched to a newspaper-type substrate. I was using one a lot like the ones in your pictures. Steve ended up getting some shavings in his mouth when he tried to eat his mouse. Mouth debris can be dangerous and trying to help them get it out risks getting a nasty defense bite.

This may not be a problem for yours.

[TheGreatStevearino]

Yeah I've read some on the topic of impaction due to ingestion of substrate and it is a little worrisome. I'm hoping Soco will take his food from tongs which will hopefully lower that risk. Thanks for your input

[Rob]

Yeah I've read some on the topic of impaction due to ingestion of substrate and it is a little worrisome. I'm hoping Soco will take his food from tongs which will hopefully lower that risk. Thanks for your input

Don't lose any sleep if your bp eats a little substrate. It will be fine, just don't have the f/t covered in it.